Best Conditions for Using iSight

To get good results with any camera, the iSight included, you need adequate light on both the subject and scene. The typical lighting scenario of a computer in a room is usually not good. Commonly the computer is facing out into the room with main light high at the center of the room behind you. This puts you in shadow and will make you look underexposed and grainy. The light needs to be behind your Air and shining on you. Sitting on a couch with the Air on your lap will often give you better lighting. If your desk is at a window you'll probably have decent light during the day.

And you don't just need light on you. You need almost as much on the background behind you. If light is on you and the background is dark, the iSight will probably overexpose you in an attempt to expose the background more.

A plain background will also make your images and videos look better. Plain white or middle-toned color walls work great. And if you're against the wall, then the Air is in front of you and the room light behind the air, as it should be.